We Taught AI to Play Games—Now It’s a $3.6 Million Company
AI & I
2025/10/15
We Taught AI to Play Games—Now It’s a $3.6 Million Company
We Taught AI to Play Games—Now It’s a $3.6 Million Company

AI & I
2025/10/15
In this episode, Dan Shipper sits down with Alex Duffy, former head of AI training at Every and founder of Good Start Labs, to explore an unconventional yet powerful idea: using games to shape the future of artificial intelligence. What began as an experimental project has evolved into a standalone venture backed by top investors, signaling growing confidence in the role of play as a catalyst for AI advancement.
The conversation delves into the limitations of static benchmarks in evaluating large language models, arguing that dynamic game environments like Diplomacy offer richer, more realistic assessments of AI behavior—especially in negotiation, strategy, and social reasoning. Alex explains how games expose subtle differences between models and enable fine-tuning for specific behaviors, turning prompt engineering into a form of artistic translation. Inspired by child psychology and theories of play, he advocates for game-based training to foster continual learning in AI—something current systems lack. Humor-driven games may also reveal new frontiers in nuance and creativity. Beyond improving AI, these interactive experiences make the technology more accessible and less intimidating to users. Looking ahead, Alex sees transformative potential in software, life sciences, and education, while emphasizing that young people entering the workforce should embrace AI as a mentor rather than fear replacement.
04:21
04:21
Models differ in map understanding and ability to follow structured orders in Diplomacy
07:15
07:15
Claude lost the game due to being too honest, highlighting how behavior affects performance
13:05
13:05
Alex Duffy's company raised a few million dollars for AI and gaming ventures
21:09
21:09
Models trained in games can generalize better to real-world tasks
22:39
22:39
AI should be allowed to 'play around' and learn dynamically like a three-year-old nephew.
25:36
25:36
Games like RuneScape offer meaningful cognitive engagement through low-stakes experimentation
26:59
26:59
Games are ideal environments for models to learn long-horizon thinking and continual development
35:28
35:28
People using AI tools fear them less as they understand their flaws and benefits.
44:08
44:08
Tech should enhance human experiences, not distract from them
44:37
44:37
Generative AI could transform real-world actions into game-like scenarios through video-to-video models.
53:47
53:47
Inexperienced but hungry individuals are better suited to adapt than those burdened by outdated methods